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Lovely smoothies

I absolutely love smoothies. Not only are they fruity and sweet and delicious, but you also feel good that you have consumed something that is good for your body. Innocent smoothies tell you what is in each portion fruitwise, so you imagine all the whole fruits being compressed into one little bottle. This makes me feel like I have consumed a load of fruit with very little effort which is a good feeling. The smoothies are always brightly coloured and appealing. It makes them look fresh and again, very healthy looking. Innocent smoothies come in a variety of flavours, strawberries and bananamango and passion fruit (my personal favourite) kiwi, apple and limespeaches and apricot (new I am yet to try)blackberry, strawberry and blackcurrantpineapple, banana and coconutpomegranates, acai and blueberries

The main one I keep coming back to again and again is the mango and passionfruit. It isn't as sharp as some of the others and it is sweet and very refreshing. Unlike juice, these smoothies have all the bits left in them. Giving you a good amount of fibre (10% RDA claimed) and also this means that they are a bit more satisfying than juice. A portion is also 2 of your 5 a day so Is a quick and convenient way of getting closer to the daily target.

However this comes at a cost. These drinks are very expensive in my opinion. When you take into account how much it costs to actually buy the fruit and make it yourself perhaps there isn't much in it for the more exotic flavours. However, I do wish these were cheaper as at £1.90 for a small bottle of smoothie these are never bought on their own. They are always bought in some sort of meal deal or special offer.

You can now also get them in small 90kcal/1 of your 5 a day sizes but there isn't much in a bottle to quench your thirst or keep you satisfied. I haven't seen these on the shelves yet but I think it is a good idea to have them available in a smaller size. It is very easy to consume a lot of calories in a drink form. Even though these drinks are healthy they are calorific and so drinking excessively doesn't do much for the waistline!

Despite the price tag they are delicious and healthy and I really do love them. I would recommend giving these a go. I cannot compare these smoothies to cheaper brands as I have not tried any but my tastebuds are not complaining!

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nice for a treat, but expensive to drink everyday

I love smoothies, especially these ones. They're healthy, and delicious- and much better than fizzy pop (but they are quite expensive, so I try to get them with meal deals at supermarkets)

Innocent have some classic, and some wacky flavours but there's plenty to chose from so you'll find something to suit your tastes. They taste really natural, and have a really thick texture. They're more substantial than a fizzy drink as one small bottle is more than enough for me.

They are easy to find in most retailors, but they are expensive, so I try to wait until they're on offer.

Innocent smoothies are a great healthy beverage that even counts towards your five-a-day! Delicious

they come in small 250cl bottles which are surprisingly filling compared to a can of coke. They also come in more economcial larger bottles, which are big enough to last you a few days

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A delicious way to get your five a day

Sometimes I find it difficult to get my five a day. This can be for a number of reasons, such as being too busy with work or not having anything to go with the fruit and veg I have in the house. This is where Innocent Smoothies come in really handy.

Innocent Smoothies come in a wide variety of different flavours, meaning that I don't get bored of them easily, as if I've had enough of a certain flavour, I can just get myself a new one.

The different sizes of bottles and cartons are also extremely good for me. If I know that I will be home a lot then I will buy the larger cartons of smoothie, as they are usually cheaper. This means I can have a glass whenever I feel thirsty, meaning I get my five a day easily. However, if I know that I will be out a lot, I can buy myself the smaller bottles instead, meaning that I can take them with me, allowing me to still get my five a day.

Overall, I love innocent smoothies just because it means that I can get my five a day with ease, it also helps that they have a good variety, and taste delicious.

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I love these smoothies and would highly recommend them

Getting 5 a day into my stubborn kids can be a bit of a nightmare but these smoothies make it so much easier and more enjoyable. Both my kids, aged 10 and 17, love smoothies so I am happy to buy them now and then as they never get wasted - if I am not quick I don't even get a glass myself.

Each carton lists the fruit included, depending on the variety of course, so it gives a clear, easy guide to what it contains, that you get 2 of your 5 a day in a 250ml glass and shows that a good variety is included. It also shows it is made from 100% real fruit with no added sugar. Our favourite is strawberries and bananas, which also includes apple, orange, grapes and a dash of lime. The calorie content, at around 133 calories in a 250ml glass, is quite high in my opinion, but this is due to the levels of natural sugars found in the fruit. So whilst this is an excellent addition to a healthy, balanced diet, its use should be limited somewhat to avoid a huge intake of sugar.

On of the other things we all love about these smoothies in our house is that it is fairly thick and can be used for a quick snack when needed as a glass of it leave you feeling like you've had something small to eat. We usually buy the 750ml cartons but have often grabbed a 250ml bottle or 2 when out and about.

At £2.79 for the carton it is a little too expensive to have everyday but we tend to stock up and buy a few at a time when they are on offer. The bottles sell at around £1.79 each, so again a little expensive, However if you were to make your own smoothies using the variety of fruit that are in these it would end up costing a lot more and a lot of effort would be involved in the making - I do this occasionally but much prefer grabbing a bottle or carton that Innocent have kindly done all the work for.

I would high recommend smoothies to anyone as the taste and texture is fantastic but I would love it even more if it was a bit more affordable.

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Hits the spot ... just don't tell your wallet.

Perhaps it's just the advertising that's fried my brain - the same way that I'm more or less programmed by now to Pavlovianly crave Coke when I'm thirsty - but I reckon I could more or less subsist on these things and not a lot else. And wouldn't that be good for me? Well, probably not. But there's a lot of goodness in an Innocent smoothie - both in terms of lip-smacking, guzzle-it-down flavour and nutritional content.

A glance at the ingredient list pretty much affirms this - at least to my layman's eyes. You've got fruit, fruit and more fruit - and that's it. Perhaps the odd vegetable, too. And it tastes wonderful - it's thick, just sweet enough and deliciously refreshing. The drinks come in a variety of flavours, from the conventional Strawberry/Banana to the more offbeat Kiwi-edged offering. There's even a Super Berry variety featuring Acai and Pomegranate. In each case, they taste fantastic; a hit of vitamins that comes down super-smoothly.

If there's a negative, it's in the hit on your wallet. At around £2.50 for 750ml, this drink doesn't come cheap. I find a carton is gone in no time, and although there are often offers on at the supermarkets, this only brings it down to the lower end of extortionate. If it's just fruit going into the drink it shouldn't cost that much - of course, you can make your own if you've got the inclination and patience. On taste and health grounds, though, this is a winner. Serve it to me in a bucket.

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Give them a try!

Summary Innocent hit the market a few years ago with a bang with their non concentrated fruit smoothies. So what are they? Innocent smoothies are made with 100% fruit and fruit juices. The premise with the product is that they are totally natural with no hidden addictives, and are fresh and good for you!

The positives- The range : there are a number of different smoothies to choose from including mango and passionfruit, strawberry and banana, Orange mango and carrot, kiwi ,Apple and lime,pineapple coconut and banana, and a super berry mix to name a few- The taste: I have tried all of the favours listed above and they are all delicious . I think its the freshness of the fruit they use which shows through in the taste. My favourite is the berry mix. Its sweet yet sharp.- The health benefits: Each 250ml bottle is two of your five a day

The Negatives

- The price : usually the 250ml bottle retails at around 2 pounds , which is v expensive for juice !- The life range: As the product is 100% natural it goes off quickly so you can't buy it and leave it in your fridge for weeks as the likehood is it will have went off- The sugar: these little bottles are packed with natural sugar which unfortunately are bad for your teeth ( why are all the nice things always bad for teeth!)

On balance the positives outweigh the negatives and I have to say I am a fan of these smoothies!

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Great stuff!

Strawberry and BananaBlackberries, Strawberries and BlackcurrantsKiwi, Apple and LimeMangoes and Passion Fruit

I love these smoothies as they are always full-flavoured (no matter which one you choose). They taste really fresh too! They have a very smooth texture. I know some people who don't like smoothies because of their 'slimey' texture, although these are very smooth with no bits.

I do love smoothies, although I tend to buy them mainly for their health benefits. Good news for those of you who have difficulties getting your 5 a days, as each 250ml glass of smoothie contains two of your five a day!! Great news!! Especially for children.

I haven't tried all of them. My favourites are; Strawberry and Banana and Blackberries, Strawberries and Blackcurrants. Whilst they are my favourites, I do like to try other flavours to get the benefits of all the other different fruits (as each different fruit contains different nutrients).

Unfortunately Innocent Smoothies are very expensive. Whilst I would love to load my trolley full of them each week, I only tend to buy them when they are on offer. A 500ml carton can set you back over £3 which I think is quite expensive, especially as it only provides me with two large glasses. Although, then again, I suppose it would cost you a lot more if you made your own smoothie. You can get the smaller 200ml bottles for around £1.95 from supermarkets and places such as Boots.

I would definitely recommend these smoothies! They are tasty, healthy, 2 of y our 5 a day, and save mess (compared to when you make homemade smoothies).

Thanks for reading!August 2012Xdonzx / xd-o-n-z-x

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I am not the healthiest eating and drinking person in the world. I know when I need to watch what I am eating and drinking but I also want to enjoy myself. However, Innocent Smoothies are one thing I do grab out of sheer love for the drink rather than thinking I have to so I can be healthier.

The one thing Innocent Smoothies pride themselves on is the fact that all of their products contain 100% natural ingredients. There is so much fruit packed into one Innocent Smoothie that just by drinking one bottle, you are actually drinking two of your five a day and there is no added sugar! There is something for everyone as Innocent has a host of flavours including strawberries & bananas, pineapples, bananas & coconut and my favourite mango & passionfruit.

I hate bits in drinks. I always have done but Innocent Smoothies are completely bit free and smooth. They are refreshing, thick and very easy to drink. This is definately best served cold. And although you know they are very healthy drinks, they still feel a bit naughty. It is like a little trick in your mind.

The bottles are made of out plastic and have a white lid. The bottle itself is clear so you can see the colour of the smoothie. There is a shaped label around the bottle with the Innocent Smoothie name and the flavour. There is also the recognisable smiley face with a halo around its head.

Innocent Smoothies can be picked up at all major supermarkets and come in variety of sizes.There is the 250ml bottle which is usually around the £1.75 mark, 750ml and 1.25L bottles which come in at £2.50 and £3.50 respectively. They also have a Kids Smoothie range which comes in a little carton with a straw and you can buy a pack of four for £3. I tend to pick Innocent Smoothie cartons and the kids packs up when they are on offer in the Supermarkets.

The only thing that lets Innocent Smoothies down is that they are very expensive. They aren't something I grab regularly because I begrudge spending nearly £2.00 on such a small bottle of drink. I think this is why Innocent isn't as popular as it could be as its price cuts out a huge market.

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Great tasting drink without any unneccessary stuff.

**Introduction**I still remember the first time I tried an Innocent Smoothie. It was quite a few years ago now, in a Starbucks, I wasn't sure about it but decided to give it a go anyway as I was really thirsty. What put me off? The fact that I could see seeds in it and the 'strange' combination of flavours. However, when needs must. To this day, I am glad I tried it. Quite possibly the best smoothie (apart from my own, of course) I have tried.

Innocent started out making smoothies and have since moved on to making other delicious products such as veg pots and juices. Their smoothies are made from 100% fruit (no concentrates) and no added sugar.

**Innocent**Innocent by name, innocent by nature. Innocent do their best to be as sustainable as they can - which is not something a lot of larger companies can say. This is important to me as I know too many companies harm the planet for the purpose of ease and profit. The fruit Innocent buy to make the smoothies is bought from suppliers who look after their workers and the environment. This sentiment is found throughout the business from packaging to production.

As you can see they have a wide range of varieties for you to try. Every bottle is packed full of fruit (some different to the ones listed). But the ingredients list shows that they really do only use fruit - nothing added and nothing taken away.

**Taste**It is all good being sustainable and having a good product range - but how is the taste and quality? After all, you aren't going to buy something disgusting on these merits alone. Well, these smoothies are delicious (of the ones I have tried - I haven't tasted one that I don't like). They create the perfect balance of the different fruits to create something that you don't want to stop tasting. No one flavour seems to over-power the other and you can taste why they added each ingredient. There are no ingredients added for the sake of bulking up - each is doing its own job through taste. When it says Strawberries and Bananas - you can bet you can taste both of those fruits.

The quality is consistent as well - as long as used within the use by date - I have never bought a smoothie that was of poor quality.

One thing that I thought would put me off was the presence of seeds. I hate bits in my juice so I wasn't so sure about this. It turns out that I don't mind bits of seeds in my smoothie.

The texture is smooth and there are no lumps or horrible bits.

**Health Benefits**As well as being packed full of vitamins each bottle contains 2 of your 5 a day. While other 'health' drinks are packed full of sugar (sometimes disguised as sweetener etc.) and are generally not very good for you these smoothies (while they do contain sugar in the form of fructose) are pretty good for you as part of a balanced diet.

**Price and Availability**One downfall to these smoothies is the price. They are certainly not the cheapest product around at about £1.95 for a 250ml bottle or £2.79 for a 750ml carton it may be cheaper to go for a more unhealthy option but I feel in this case it is worth the extra money for the quality of the product you get.

**Conclusion**While I tend to drink water/ tea/ home-made smoothies I will pick up an Innocent smoothie from time to time. The delicious smoothies may be a bit on the pricey side but they are worth it in taste alone. Couple that with a sustainable business model and you have me sold.

I would recommend these to pretty much everyone especially as an occasional treat if you are watching the pennies slightly. However, if you are on a tight budget it may be a more cost-effective move to just make your own (using frozen fruit).

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A fresh fruit taste with an over thick consistency

~Not quite so Innocent Smoothies~***************************

Innocent Smoothies seem to be something that I really cannot persuade my family to drink. I have bought these fruit flavoured smoothie drinks in the past and they tend to simply languish at the back of the drinks fridge looking all unloved and unwanted whilst other fruity drinks such as Tropicana and Ocean Spray seem to fly out through the fridge door like they are going out of style. I feel that the over thick consistency of theses drinks is what puts people off them, making them a love them or hate them kind of product.

I know that you get lots of lovely fruit in each carton or bottle of drink with some interesting fruit combinations to be had and I personally feel that they are a helpful way to increase ones intake of five a day fruit. Yet I still find that even for myself the over thick consistency of Innocent Smoothies makes them almost as unpalatable as a Frijj Milkshake if I over indulge. I must add that these don't taste very nice when warm either and are best served ice cold in my opinion.

~Product presentation/ cost~*********************

The packing that these drinks come in is very minimal but also rather eye catching as they do stand out from other products in supermarket and store fridges. The small clear plastic bottles have well fitting lids that stop leaks once you have cracked open a bottle and taken your first sip and the simple tetra packs that the larger drinks come in work as well as most other similar packs in my opinion (although a twist on and off lid like the Ocean Spray drinks have would have been a little more practical in my opinion). The price of Innocent Smoothies does vary from around £1 for a small bottle to over £2 for a tetra pack carton which I feel is reasonable based on the amount of fresh fruit you get per pack/ bottle.

~Flavours~********

Flavours are varied and all do have a fresh and fruity taste that I feel can be refreshing if kept chilled in the fridge. All drinks are sugar free yet in my opinion still have a natural sweetness to them and are made with 100% fruit. Blends such as strawberries and bananas seem to be heavy on the banana flavour in my opinion so if you aren't keen on those stay away from this one (although I don't mind it too much). Mangoes and passion fruits is a reasonably nice mix and pineapples, bananas and coconuts really does have a fresh hint of coconut that means you could almost see yourself on a tropical island somewhere with a pina colada in hand.

~To buy or not to buy?~******************

Over all I feel that I can drink a small bottle of this every now and then and feel refreshed, but buying it on a regular basis has been a waste of time as no on else seems to like this very much and a full sized carton just ends up going to waste. I would rather stick with fruit based drinks that I know won't be wasted if buying the tetra packs and will stick to only having these when I know that a small bottle or carton will actually be used. I do like the idea of all the fresh fruit in each drink and the taste is very good on the whole, it really is the texture of these drinks that seems to be the issue.

~Rating~*******

My rating for Innocent Drinks is 3 stars due to their over thick consistency. Had they been a little thinner and not quite so gloopy I would have given them 4 stars as they do have some nice flavours that work well together. I wonder if they might begin to make some of these as fruit juice drinks instead as I would be more inclined to buy them in that case. As these are super thick drinks I sometimes feel that I have to water them down a little just to make them more appealing and I find that the bottom of a carton or bottle will most often have an even thicker more gloopy consistency which can really only be avoided by shaking the bottle or carton before use.

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A delicious drink and snack in one. A great way to get 2 of your 5 a day

Remember the days gone by when you had to make your own smoothie? First of all you had to buy all different types of fruit (or vegetables), but only a few of each. It was so expensive, as the shops never seemed to sell small portions, or if they did, you felt like a skinflint just buying a dozen grapes. Once you got it home, you had to wash and de-stone the fiddly fruits like apricots and plums. Apples? Well they SAID you could put the pips in, but who in their right mind eats apple pips right? Then the blender. Took ages to fit together, there was always a bit missing and the noise was horrendous. Then you poured out half a glass of slop which looked like the cat had just thrown it up. After you sipped the vitamins, making it last after all that effort, you had the task of dismantling and cleaning the blender. Phew!Well cancel all that and buy Innocent smoothies instead. There are so many delicious combinations and textures, you'll never get bored with them. Innocent have gone to all the trouble of shopping, washing, blending and they've even done the washing up! Their smoothies contain real fruit and nothing else, so they provide 2 of your 5 a day. Great with breakfast, as a mid morning snack, a post-gym boost, enjoy them any time.It is best not to have more than one smoothie a day, as the fruit sugar content (naturally present in the fruit) could cause damage to teeth in the case of excessuve consumption.The price is a bit expensive, if I'm honest, but they are frequently on offer in the major supermarkets. The individual bottles work out even more expensive, so buy a reusable bottle to transport them of you're taking them to work or the gym. Finally, if you're bored for 5 minutes, read the cartons. They're highly entertaining!

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a nice drink that contains lots fruit but they are quite expensive

Innocent smoothies have recently been in the paper with claims they are actually bad for your health and no innocent at all. I have tried a few different flavours and analysed the nutritional content and the ingredients and this is what I have found:

Taste- No-body can deny that they taste delicious, they are a mixture of different fruits that create a thick sweet drink that's really refreshing. Some of them contain small seeds that you find in fruits such as strawberry's I personally like these but if you don't there are other smoothies that don't have any.

Nutrition- There have been issued raised over their sugar content, however all these smoothies contain is fruit, they have no added sugar and no other ingredients. The reason for their high sugar content is fruit is naturally high in sugar. The government recommends you eat five servings of fruit or veg a day and I think that this is a great way to get a couple. I wouldn't recommend drinking more than one bottle a day because it would be better to vary your fruit and veg intake. They are relatively bad for your teeth because of all the natural sugar but if you don't drink loads of them and brush your teeth daily I don't think you would have any problems.

Design- You can see what is in the bottle with innocent smoothies and I always think they look tasty and refreshing. On some of the cartons they have fun facts and tell you exactly how much fruit has gone into your drink. They also contain fun fruit characters and the children's cartons have puzzles on the back.

Price- The only problem with them is they are quite pricey and other smoothie brands are cheaper. Its a lot cheaper to buy fruit and make your own smoothies but this takes time and some people would rather pay more for the convenience of them. For a small bottle it costs around £1.20. You can buy big cartons that work out cheaper but they are still on the expensive side. I would look out for them when they are on offer and stock up.

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The best smoothies ever

I love these smoothies. They are packed full of goodness and are great for both adults and children.

The smoothies come in a variety of different flavours and they come in a variety of different sizes too. I often stock up when they are on offer as they can be quite expensive when they are at full price.

The smoothies are lovely. They are made with natural ingredients and you can really taste the fruit that they are made with. They have a lovely smooth texture that just tickles your tastebuds, yum! They are quite filling too. I find that just one 250ml serving of one of these keeps me going for around two hours or so. They also give you a burst of energy. If I am slumping I find that a typical 250ml serving boosts my energy levels and maintains alertness. The smoothies are best served chilled as they are more refreshing that way. They're refreshing anyway but I prefer the taste of them when they are chilled.

The smoothies come in small plastic bottles too, which are ideal for a quick snack. These can be find in places such as Tesco and Boots. They are part of the meal deal in Boots.

These are lovely smoothies that taste great and they're really good for you. They also count towards your five-a-day, great!

Lovely smoothies, better than homemade!

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A smoothie which mixes the perfect blend of fruit every time

It is that time of year when we all try to start eating healthily after the major Christmas binge. It was upon having this thought recently that my partner and I decided that we needed to start eating more healthily and in particular try and up our daily intake of fruit and vegetables. Juice is a great way of doing this without the effort plus it also goes down much easier; however a lot of juices come from concentrate and are therefore lacking in the vitamins found in freshly squeezed fruit. We therefore opted for the Innocent smoothie range, being that it uses freshly squeezed fruit to create a lovely variety of juice mixes.

------The Product------

For all those who have not seen this range of drinks, the Innocent Smoothie range uses a mix of juiced whole fruits to give a healthy and delicious drink. These smoothies are available in three types of packaging these being 250ml bottles, 750ml cartons or the larger 1.25l family cartons. Over the years the flavour options of this drink have expanded and these now include the following:-

It is worth noting that the smaller bottles and cartons are available in all six of the above flavours; however the larger 1.25l cartons are only available in the Strawberries and Bananas, Mangoes and Passion fruits and Kiwis, Apples and Limes options.

------Packaging------

Each smoothie option is simplistically packaged either in a translucent bottle or a white carton which is illustrated simply with an almost childlike illustration of an angel face and halo. The back of the packaging serves to give the consumer a list of the ingredients which are illustrated with small pictures of the fruits within.

------Ingredients------

Every smoothie contains an entirely natural fruit content with no added preservatives or flavours which means they are completely healthy if a little high in sugar content. It is worth commenting that every smoothie option has a minimum of 5 pieces of fruit within and this increases to 9 pieces of fruit for the berries option. Plus a glass or so of the juice provides 2 of your 5 a day.

------Price and Availability------

I bought my Innocent juice from Sainsburys and bought two 750ml cartons for £4; however they can be purchased for £2.29 separately. If buying the smaller 250ml bottles they cost £1.75 in Sainsburys however can be bought as part of a lunch time meal deal.

------My Experience------

In my opinion this juice is impressive, both in the natural quality of the ingredients to the simplistic and attractive packaging. I bought 2 cartons of this product in the Mango and Passionfruit flavour and upon clicking back the lid of the carton I was struck by the highly fruity and delicious smell of the juice inside. The juice was a rich amber colour and was quite thick in consistency with particles of the juiced fruit being visible.

The flavour of the drink is what makes it so special being highly tropical and fruity in taste whilst also being very refreshing. The flavour of the mangoes was really apparent with a hint of the passion fruit. Although you would not want to use this smoothie as a real thirst quencher being that it is quite expensive, a glass of the juice makes a great accompaniment to our evening meals and this means a carton usually lasts a couple of days between the two of us.

Overall this is a great tasting drink which although costly is a very healthy option which ensures you get a couple of your five a day. I have therefore scored it five out of five stars and would highly recommend it!

Thanks for taking the time to read my review!

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Lovely tasting, healthy smoothie but expensive

Innocent smoothies provide a quick and covenient way to get two or three of your five a day and taste great. They come in a range of flavours and so far I haven't tried any I haven't enjoyed. I love the innocent branding - it's funky and fresh and not like anything else on the market. If I do buy a small innocent smoothie it's usually as part of a Boots meal deal which means it works out as fairly good value. However, if you buy a bottle on its own, it is definitely on the pricey side. It's obviously much more economical to make a smoothie yourself, and that way you can experiment more with ingredients, flavours and texture. Innocent also make Veg Pots which promise to provide at least three of your five a day. They are incredibly tasty - some more so than others - and very easy to prepare. Again, they are quite expensive but provide a very nutritious, convenient lunch.